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Last year, Mbabane Swallows FC was the first football club to qualify for the group stages of the TOTAL CAF Confederation Cup and their heroics in African football continued this past weekend when they became the first local side to qualify for the group stages of the supreme inter- club competition (TOTAL CAF Champions League) in Africa. They did so at the expense of Zanaco FC from Zambia whom on paper were expected to qualify after eliminating them by an aggregate score of 3-1 after the local football club won in Zambia by 2-1 before winning its local match against the Zambians by an odd goal.

Football being the beautiful game is won by creating and converting your chances and this is what Mbabane Swallows FC did. This success brought smiles to the nation at large and this will definitely enhance our football brand as some of the players competing in this competition are also playing for the senior national team of which they will be of great value when it comes to international football.

Once again, we salute you Maswaiswai and all the best as you continue with your heroics in Africa on behalf of the Kingdom of Swaziland.

The Pick N Pay brand has invested to the youth of the country through football by sponsoring the Primary Schools’ Football Development Programme. This sponsorship is in a form football material to the value of E300 000.00. These materials include soccer kits and balls that will be used by the participating schools during this football development programme.

According to Prakash Parsad from Pick n Pay, this sponsorship is part of their brand’s promotional initiative that will run for 7 weeks. “As part of our promotion, the Pick n Pay brand decided to partner with the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS), in developing football more especially at grassroots level”, he said. It is expected that a total of 42 primary schools along the Mbabane- Manzini corridor will participate in a 2-day competition which will be played on the 2nd and 9th June 2018 at the Somhlolo National Stadium and Mavuso Sports Centre respectively. This partnership between the National Football Association of Swaziland and Pick n Pay in as far as this football development programme is concerned, is a pilot as the aim is for it to be implemented country-wide in condition that this initial one is a success.

As a result of this investment by Pick n Pay, the NFAS has expressed its excitement about this football development programme. “The NFAS is very much exited this football development programme as it enhances the football association’s effort in developing the sport in the country”, said the President of the NFAS; Senator Adam Mthethwa.

The launch of the Pick n Pay Primary Schools’U15s Football Development Programme. These were Honourable Minister David Ngcamphalala who is the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture and Honourable Minister Phineas Magagula who is the Minister of Education and Training. The presence of both ministers’ this event, showed government’s support towards football development in the country.

The Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs highlighted His Majesty’s Government towards the development of football in the country and the role that the private sector can play in doing so. His Majesty’s Government encourages such investments as they enhance the development of the sport in the country”, he said.

On the other hand, the Minister of Education and Training, also expressed His Majesty’s Government’s support and excitement towards this initiative. “This sport promotes discipline, self-motivation, team work and physical fitness which is very much key in the development of a child, thus as government, we are very much happy and excited with this football development programme’’, he said.

The Vice President of the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) who is also the Chairman of the Swazi bank Cup Managing Committee (MC) has highlighted that the game of football is the best marketing vehicle for any product. “Football is the best marketing vehicle for any product”, he said.

This was during the lunch of the teams’ PROs that was facilitated by Swazi Bank at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini. He also highlighted that so far this competition is progressing very well. Finally the Chairman of the Swazi Bank Cup MC urged the nation to support the bank with a heart by buying the various products that it offers.

The sponsor of the Swazi Bank Cup, which is the bank with a heart, is very much pleased with the progress of the competition thus far. This was elaborated by the Managing Director (MD) of the bank, Mr. Zakhele Lukhele during the lunch for the PROs of the football clubs involved in the competition which was held at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini. “Swazi Bank is very much happy with the progress of the competition thus far”, said the MD of Swazi Bank.

He also acknowledged the huge support of the clubs and their fans who are the very same consumers of football and the bank’s products for their roles that they play during this competition as they create an entertaining atmosphere in the stadiums. “As part of the competition, there are heart breaks and that is part of the competition as in football there has to be winners and losers simultaneously of which credit must go to the teams and their fans for accepting the results as they unfold”, he said.

Finally, he acknowledged the PROs for their efforts in promoting the competition who also reciprocated that by declaring their excitement in the partnership that the bank has with football over the years as it came with a lot of innovation that accommodated all the stakeholders of the competition.

Mbabane Swallows FC through their captain, Tony Tsabedze have declared their hunger in qualifying for the group stages of the TOTAL CAF Champions League Competition. “We want to qualify to the group stages of the competition and this will be done at the expense of Zanaco FC”, the skipper said.

He also highlighted that as a team they have worked very hard in getting good results more especially when playing away from home. The captain also added that the Zambian teams have eliminated them in interclub competitions before but, this won’t be the case this time around. “The Zambian’s have eliminated us from CAF interclub competitions and it is enough”, said the captain. As a player, they have promised to make the Swazi nation happy by getting good results in Zambia.

Mbabane Swallows FC left the country by road on Monday and they will connect a flight in OR Tambo International Airport for Zambia. This match will be played at the Nokoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Wednesday; 7th March 2018 and kick-off is at 1500hrs.

The National U20 Team is scheduled to play against Malawi U20 National Team in the TOTAL CAF U20 Africa Cup of Niger 2019 Qualifiers. The local lads will play their first leg encounter against the Malawians on the last weekend of March 2018 away in Malawi with the second leg to be played on home soil on the third weekend of April 2018.

The aggregate winners of this encounter will play against Angola which is one of the 12 teams that were exempted in the 1st round of the qualifiers. These teams are those which qualified to the final tournament of the last 2 editions in addition to the 4 teams who reached the last round of the qualifiers of the last edition.

The 1st leg of the 2nd round will be played on the 2nd weekend of May with the 2nd leg to be played on the following weekend. The 3rd and final round of qualifiers will be played in July with the 1st leg to be played on the 2nd weekend of July. The 2nd leg will be played on the following weekend.

The Minister of Sports, Culture & Youth Affairs; Honourable Minister David Ngcamphalala believes that Young Buffaloes FC can win their away match against Cape Town City FC. He said this during a farewell function of “Amathole Ezinyathi” that was held at the Technical Centre of the NFAS in Lobamba. “Looking at the chances you created on the 1st leg, the chances of winning are there, only if we convert them”, he said.

The Honourable Minister also highlighted that Cape Town City didn’t win easily at the Somhlolo National Stadium of which it will be tough for them to do so even on their back yard. “They didn’t win easily here at home and it will be tough for them even in in Cape Town”, he said. The Honourable Minister urged the players to solder on and progress to the next round as the nation is now used to see local teams progressing in inter clubs competitions. He assured them that His Majesty’s Government and the Swazi Nation will be with them in prayer. He also reminded the travelling delegation about the significance of good conduct as they will be representing the country.

Finally he thanked Swazi Bank, the bank with a heart for sponsoring the media to cover the match between Cape Town City FC and Young Buffaloes FC.

The National Football Association of Swaziland’s (NFAS) President, Senator Adam Mthethwa has urged Young Buffaloes FC to turn the tables in Cape Town when the play against Cape Town City FC on Tuesday in the TOTAL CAF Confederation Cup second leg matches. Currently, the South African side has an advantage over the local team as they won the first leg encounter by a solitary goal. Inorder for Young Buffaloes to progress, they have to win the match by at least 2-1 as they can progress by the away goal rule.

“As a person, you want to achieve in life and nothing is impossible, which is the same scenario with Young Buffaloes FC. I am sure that each one of you wants to make history for the country and this is a perfect opportunity to do so”, said the President of the NFAS. He also reminded the team that by bidding them farewell, they must know that they have received the blessings from the elders of the country of which they won’t be by themselves as they travel to Cape Town.

The 2018 Swazi Bank Cup was officially launched at Esibayeni Lodge on Thursday, 15th February 2018. This marks the beginning of business for this knock-out competition that is sponsored by the bank with a heart. This year’s sponsorship is worth E2.6 Million which includes a E75 000.00 sponsorship towards the Swazi Bank Women’s Cup.

Present during this occasion was the National Football Association of Swaziland’s (NFAS) President, Senator Adam Mthethwa, Managing Director (MD) of Swazi Bank; Mr. Zakhele Lukhele, Football and Swazi Bank’s Families just to mention but a few. This year’s grand opening is scheduled for Sunday, 25th February 2018. This football competition comes with a number of prizes for the football clubs, players, match officials, fans and the media.

The 2018 Swazi Bank Cup is the 15th edition and the slogan is “Uyayifuna na?” This means, do you really wants it? This slogan came from Ncamiso Dlamini who is a student at St. Mary’s High School who won himself E2 000.00. The Champions of this competition will get E1Million plus a ticket to the TOTAL CAF Confederation Cup.